Method and apparatus for tamper resistant packaging

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for tamper resistant packaging comprises a container ( 102 ) having a top ( 106 ), and a bottom ( 108 ). The container has a shape such that a top container perimeter has a first length, and a bottom container perimeter has a second length which is great than the first length. The container also has a tab ( 124 ) extending outward from a side surface of the container. The packaging further comprises a sleeve ( 104 ) adapted to slide over the top of the container, the sleeve having a bottom opening that has a sleeve bottom perimeter that has a third length that is greater than the first length and less than the second length such that the sleeve will not slide over the bottom of the container. The sleeve includes an engaging member ( 132 ) adapted to engage the tab.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions relate generally to packaging, and moreparticularly to a method and apparatus for tamper resistant packaging.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tamper resistant packaging is often required by retailers in order tosecurely provide merchandise in the store front. The tamper resistantpackaging in general prevents unwanted opening of the package andsecuring the components in the package. This is generally done by makingthe packaging difficult to open without the use of tools or some forcethat would be appt to being apparent in a retail setting.

One type of packaging currently in use is the clam shell package. Theshell package to be sealed together such that the two halves of the clamshell may not be pulled apart by manual operation (i.e. without the useof tools such as a cutting edge). This however requires the use ofsealing equipment, such as ultrasonic or RF sealing machines forexample, and materials which add both cost and time to the process.

The various aspects, features and advantages of the present inventionswill become more fully apparent to those having ordinary skill in theart upon careful consideration of the following Detailed Description ofthe Drawings with the accompanying drawings described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate viewsand which together with the detailed description below are incorporatedin and form part of the specification, serve to further illustratevarious embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages allin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary tamper resistant packaging container andsleeve.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary container side elevation view.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary container side elevation view.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary front elevation view of the sleeve.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary bottom view of the container and the sleeve.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary sleeve prior to assembly.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures areillustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beendrawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements inthe figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help toimprove understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordancewith the present invention, it should be observed that the embodimentsreside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatuscomponents related to tamper resistant packaging. Accordingly, theapparatus components and method steps have been represented whereappropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only thosespecific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments ofthe present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with detailsthat will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the arthaving the benefit of the description herein.

The instant disclosure is provided to further explain in an enablingfashion the best modes of making and using various embodiments inaccordance with the present invention. The disclosure is further offeredto enhance an understanding and appreciation for the inventionprinciples and advantages thereof, rather than to limit in any mannerthe invention.

It is further understood that the use of relational terms, if any, suchas first and second, top and bottom, and the like are used solely todistinguish one from another entity or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between suchentities or actions.

A method and apparatus for tamper resistant packaging is disclosed. Thepackaging apparatus comprises a container having a top, a bottom a fronta back a first side and a second side. The container has a shape suchthat the front and the back taper inward from the top to the bottom ofthe container and the first side and the second side taper outward fromtop to the bottom of the container such that a top container perimeteris equal in length to a bottom container perimeter. The container has atab extending outward from a side surface of the container. Theapparatus comprises a sleeve for sliding over the top of the container,the sleeve having a bottom opening that has a sleeve bottom perimeterthat is equal in length to the bottom container perimeter such that thesleeve will not slide over the bottom of the container. The sleeveincludes a slot adapted to engage the tab preventing the sleeve fromsliding back of the top of the container. As the sleeve reached the fullcontainment of the container, such as a clamshell container, integratedlocking featured engage, preventing the sleeve from sliding in thereverse direction. The sleeve prevents the container from being openeduntil it is removed by destructive force providing evidence oftampering.

The tamper resistant packaging comprises a container to contain theproducts for sale. The container has a unique geometric shape which isadapted to receive a sleeve. The tamper resistant packaging includes anengaging member carried either on the container or the sleeve. Thesleeve locks the container in a closed position preventing the packagingfrom being opened without removing the sleeve. The sleeve bottom openinghas a perimeter that is equal to or less than a bottom perimeter of thecontainer 102. The engaging member prevents the sleeve from beingremoved from the container over the top of the container.

FIG. 1 illustrates the tamper resistant packaging comprising a container102 and a sleeve 104. The container has a top 106 a bottom 108 a front110, a back (not shown) a first side 112 and a second side 114. Theshape of the container is such that the sides taper inward in thedirection illustrated by arrows 116 and 118 from the top 106 of thecontainer to the bottom 108 of the container. The container has anx-dimension 121 and a y-dimension 123. At the top 106, a top x-dimension140, is wider than the bottom x-dimension 122 of the bottom 108.

The container includes an engaging member, two tabs 124 in thisexemplary embodiment, that engage the sleeve 104. The tabs 124 aresubstantially flat in the y-dimension having the thickness of thecontainer 102 for example. The tabs are integrally formed as part of thecontainer 102 in this exemplary embodiment. The tabs 124 extendlaterally outward from the first side 112 and the second side 114, nearthe top 106 in opposite directions relative to one another. Each tab hasa tab bottom 127. A tab top 129 tapers outward from the top 106. Thecontainer 102, with the tabs 124, from the outer most point on each tab124, has a tab x-dimension 131. The container has a tab bottomx-dimension 140 measured where the tab bottom 127 meets the containersides 112, 114.

The sleeve 104 has a top edge 126 and a bottom edge 128 and anx-dimension 144 and a y-dimension 146. FIG. 1 illustrates the sleeve 104in a substantially flattened form wherein a sleeve front 130 and asleeve back portion are adjacent. The sleeve 104 must be opened from theflattened form to slide over the container 102 in the directionindicated by arrows 141 during assembly. The shape of the sleeve 104 issuch that sleeve tapers outward along the y-dimension 146 from the top126 to the bottom 128. A first slot 132 and a second slot 134, which arevoids in the sleeve 104, are cut in from the top edge 126 of the sleeve104 downward toward the bottom edge 128. Each slot, 132, 143 has a slotbottom 136. The slots 132, 143 are wider than a width of the tabs 124,125, so that the tabs slide freely into the slots 132, 134. The sleevehas a slot bottom x-dimension 138.

FIG. 2 shows the container 102 from a side elevation view 200. Thecontainer is formed by two halves, a first half 202 and a second half204 which close together to contain the product therein. A first halffront portion 206 is adapted to be received by a second half backportion 208 thereby closing the container. Alternatively, the first half202 and the second half 204 may be connected along one edge and foldedtogether. Engaging members integral in the first half 202 and a secondhalf 204 engage when the first half 202 is closed together with thesecond half 204 holding the two halves together.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary side elevation view of the first half and thesecond half closed together 300. In this embodiment, the shape of thepackage is such that the front 110 and a back 210 taper outward,illustrated by arrows 312 and 314, from the top 106 of the container tothe bottom 108. Therefore, looking at FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the frontelevation view shows that from the top, which is substantially flat, thesides taper inward illustrated by arrows 116 and 118 from the top 106 ofthe container to the bottom 108 of the container, while the sideelevation view 300 shows that the front 110 and a back 210 taperoutward, illustrated by arrows 312 and 314, from the top 106 of thecontainer to the bottom 108 forming a wedge. An outside bottom containerperimeter 302 of container 102 is substantially equal to or greater thana top container perimeter. In this embodiment, this is the widest point,at the bottom 108, from front 110 to back 210 of the container 102. Thetop has a top z-dimension 304 that is substantially less than the bottomz-direction 308 in this embodiment. The top perimeter at the top 106,however, is less than the bottom perimeter at the bottom 108.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary front elevation view 400 of the sleeve104, shown in dashed line form, slid over the container 102 and lockedinto place. Assembling the packaging comprises, sliding the sleeve 104over the top 106 of the container 102 by opening the sleeve 104, fromthe flattened configuration 104, at the bottom edge 128 enough to slidethe top 106 of the container into the sleeve 104. The dimensions of thesleeve 104 allows the sleeve 104 to slide over the top 106 of thecontainer 102 in order to slide over and cover the container 102, butdoes not allow the sleeve 104 to slide over the bottom 108 of thecontainer. The inside bottom edge perimeter of the sleeve 104 is equalto, or less than, the bottom container perimeter 302 of container 102 toprevent the sleeve 104 from sliding past container 102 bottom 108. Asthe sleeve 104 continues to slide over the container 102, from top tobottom, and as the container tapers outward, the sleeve slides downuntil the sleeve bottom edge 128, wedges, and is aligned substantiallywith the bottom 106 of the container 102 and can not slide any further.

The sleeve 104 also slides over the first tab 124 and the second tab 125until the first slot 132 and the second slot 134 align therewith. Thisoccurs substantially at the same points, or just prior to the point atwhich the sleeve can not slide any further. The first tab 124 and thesecond tab 125 slide into (i.e. engage) the first slot 132 and thesecond slot 134 respectively. Once engaged, the tabs, 124, 125 preventthe sleeve from sliding back over the top 106 of the container 102. Itis to be understood by those skilled in the art that only one tab may benecessary to lock in the sleeve 104 into place and that other locationsof the tab may be appropriate.

In one embodiment, the tabs are flexible and may bend or fold inward asthe sleeve 104 slides over the tabs 124, 125 during assembly. The tabs124, 125 unfold as they slide into the slots 132 and 134. The tab bottom127 engages the slot bottom 136 and prevents the sleeve from slidingupward. The slot bottom x-dimension 138 of the sleeve 104 is less thanthe tab x-dimension 146 and greater than the tab bottom x-dimension 140.This allows the sleeve 104 to slide over the tabs 124 in only onedirection, from top to bottom, indicated by arrows 148.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary bottom view 500 of the container 102 andthe sleeve 104. The sleeve 104 in this illustration, represented by afirst dashed line 502, is shown fully assembled onto the container 102.The first dashed line 502 shows the bottom edge 128 of the sleeve 104having the same inner perimeter as container 102 bottom perimeter at thebottom 108. The second dashed line 504 represents an alternateembodiment wherein the inner perimeter of the sleeve bottom edge 128 isslightly shorter than the bottom perimeter of the bottom 108 of thecontainer 102.

FIG. 6 illustrates one exemplary sleeve 102 that is formed from a flatpiece of material such as cardboard. The sleeve 104 is cut or stampedand then folded upon itself to form the sleeve, by folding edge A tocouple to edge B. Edge A and edge B may be coupled by a fastener such asglue, staples, integral latching means or the like. Once folded togetherand fastened, the sleeve 104, may be assembled onto the container 102.The container 102 halves do not need to be sealed as the sleeve 104prevents opening of the container 102.

The sleeve may be cardboard with printed information on the surface or aplastic such as a clear plastic which allow the contents to be seenthrough the sleeve and container. The sleeve is not limited to aspecific material however. The sleeve can be manufactured in variouspaper or plastic forms or combinations thereof. The container halves donot need to be sealed together eliminating a step in the packagingprocess as the sleeve prevents opening of the container withoutsignificant and evident damages or tampering to the packaging.

While the present inventions and what are considered presently to be thebest modes thereof have been described sufficiently to establishpossession by the inventors and to enable those of ordinary skill tomake and use the inventions, it will be understood and appreciated thatthere are equivalents to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein andthat many modifications and variations may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the inventions, which are to belimited not by the exemplary embodiments but by the claims appendedhereto.

1. A packaging apparatus comprising: a container having a top, a bottoma front a back a first side and a second side, the container having ashape such that the front and the back taper inward from the top to thebottom of the container and the first side and the second side taperoutward from top to the bottom of the container; a tab extending outwardfrom a side surface of the container; and a sleeve for sliding over thetop of the container, the sleeve having a bottom opening that has asleeve bottom perimeter that is equal in length to the bottom containerperimeter such that the sleeve will not slide over the bottom of thecontainer, wherein the sleeve includes slot adapted to engage the tab.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a firsthalf and a second half that fold together in a closed position.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the sleeve has a complimentary shape tothe container.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the tab issubstantially adjacent to the top of the container preventing the sleevefrom sliding off the top once engaged.
 5. A packaging apparatuscomprising: a container having a top, bottom, a first side, a secondside, a front and a back, the container having a shape wherein the firstside and the second side taper inward from the top of the container tothe bottom of the container, and wherein the front and the back taperoutward from the top of the container to the bottom of the container,and wherein the container has a tab; and a sleeve for covering thecontainer, the sleeve formed by a first side a second side a front and aback and having a bottom opening, wherein the front and the back aretapered inward from a top of the sleeve to a bottom of the sleeve, andwherein the first side and the second side are tapered outward from thetop of the sleeve to the bottom of the sleeve, and wherein the openingat the bottom of the sleeve is the same size as the bottom of thecontainer such that the sleeve does not fit over the bottom of thecontainer, and wherein the sleeve has an engaging member to engage thetab preventing the sleeve from sliding back over the top of thecontainer.
 6. The packaging apparatus of claim 5, wherein the containeris a clam shell container having a first half and a second half thatfold together to form the container in a closed position.
 7. Thepackaging apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first half has a fasteningfirst member and the second half has a second fastening member to fastenthe first half and the second half in the closed position.
 8. Thepackaging apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tab is at the top of thecontainer.
 9. The packaging apparatus of claim 5, wherein the engagingmember is a notch.
 10. A method for assembling a tamper resistantpackage comprising: closing a container, the container having a top anda bottom, a front a back, a first side and a second side; and sliding asleeve having a bottom opening inner perimeter the same size as thebottom outer perimeter the container over the closed container from thetop of the container to the bottom by substantially flattening thebottom portion of the sleeve so that a bottom opening of the sleeve fitsover the top of the container and sliding the bottom opening to thebottom of the container wherein the sleeve can not slide further becausethe bottom opening is the same size has the same size as the bottom ofthe container.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising engaging atab of the container with a notch in the sleeve, preventing the sleevefrom sliding off the top of the container.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the method of closing the container includes folding a firstportion and a second portion of a clam shell container together.
 13. Apackaging apparatus comprising: a container having a substantially flattop portion, and having a wedge shape, tapering outward from the top toa bottom in a first direction, and tapering inward from top to bottom ina second direction, wherein the bottom of the container has a perimeterequal in length to the top; a sleeve having a shape that whensubstantially flattened has an inner perimeter substantially equal tothe length of the flat top such that the sleeve slide over the top ofthe container, and opens to conform to the container size as the sleeveis slid over the container, wherein the sleeve does not slide over thebottom of the container wedging thereon; and a tab that extends from thecontainer substantially near the top, the tab flexible such that itbends as the sleeve slide over the tab, and engages a notch in thesleeve once the sleeve reaches a maximum sliding distance onto thecontainer.